This past weekend Mandelbaum, Fitzsimmons, Hewitt & Cain, P.A. had the wonderful opportunity to sponsor this years Best Buddies Friendship Walk. It was a great day for a great cause! The walk raised awareness and funds to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The charity event plays a key role in funding Best Buddies programs dedicated to one-to-one friendships, leadership development, and integrated job opportunities for individuals with IDD. We were honored to be apart of such a great event for such an amazing cause. To find out more about Best Buddies and how you can volunteer or donate click here: https://bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org/tampabay/.

Why does this happen? Usually it is ignorance of the law. A company’s manager may be in charge of running a specific organizational unit. In doing so, that manager has hard working employees that are putting in 60 hour work-weeks. Unfortunately, the manager has been paying these employees a salary thinking that they are acting independently and are exempt from overtime. Non-payment of overtime can be expensive, possibly owning double damages. In other instances, a company may just recognize the higher of tracking and paying overtime and simply ignore the law. The risk rarely pays off.

If your company has not had an attorney review your employment practices, then we urge you get that completed on an annual basis. Our attorneys can assist with organizational structure, identify exempt and non-exempt positions, differentiate between an employee and independent contractor, and provide proper payment methods. There are many other employment considerations, including non-compete agreements, confidentiality agreements, and harassment policies and training. Let’s avoid damage to your money tree and let’s water it regularly. For your employment needs, contact Scott K. Hewitt, Esq.

September 3, 2010. Tampa, Florida — Kevin Fitzsimmons named to the board of directors of Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc.

Derrick Brooks Charities, Inc. provides educational opportunities for socio-economically challenged youth that will instill, inspire, broaden and develop cultural and social vision outside of the walls in which they live to ensure that these young people have every chance to develop into strong and productive leaders of tomorrow.

Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and though the independent research. Rising Stars names the state’s top up-and-coming attorneys.

January 2010. Tampa, Florida — Scott K. Hewitt has been named to the board of directors for the Tampa YMCA.

YMCA of Tampa. For well over a century, the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA has helped kids, families and adults grow strong in spirit, mind, and body. As Tampa and surrounding areas expanded dramatically over the past two decades, so did the YMCA as we launched new facilities and programs that are the heart of the communities they serve. Today, our YMCA touches more than 140,000 lives annually through 18 facilities, hundreds of programs, and dozens of community outreach projects. It would be difficult to imagine Tampa without the YMCA.

Mandelbaum, Fitzsimmons and Hewitt are proud to announce that two of the firm’s lawyers have been named to the prestigious 2008 Super Lawyers, which lists the top attorneys in Florida. This distinction is given to less than 5% of practicing Florida attorneys. You can visit their profiles at SuperLawyers.com

Kevin Fitzsimmons, managing partner, was noted for his work in the area of business litigation. Samuel R. Mandelbaum, firm president, was acknowledged for his work in international law. Candidates are evaluated by a panel of their peers in their primary area of practice.